CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE

April 22, 1921

Charlotte Lawrence was born Charlotte Sorkin in Los Angeles, California. She attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles where she was active in Theater. She moved to New York in the early 1940’s to pursue a career in radio. She had a lucrative career as a radio actress, but left New York to return home to take care of her mother.

She made her screen (and TV) debut in a May 1952 episode of “Gang  Busters” titled “The Quirley Gang.” 

On “I Love Lucy” she played one of Ethel Mertz’s bridge-playing pals in “No Children Allowed” (ILL S2;E22). She’s the one who has the sandwich snatched out of her hands when Lucy and Ethel break up the party.  

She also played neighbor Marge in “The Homecoming” (ILL S5;E6).  The character of Marge was often someone Lucy talked to on the telephone, but was rarely seen. In Lucy’s “My Favorite Husband” radio series she was known as Marge Van Tassel. 

On “The Lucy Show” she played Elizabeth Westcott, Patty’s mom, in “Lucy is a Chaperone” (TLS S1;E27) on April 8, 1963. This was her penultimate screen credit.  

Her final screen credit was an April 1964 episode of “Burke’s Law” alongside fellow “Lucy” alumni Peggy Gould, Gail Bonney, Peggy Rea, and Leoda RIchards. 

In the mid 1960’s, Charlotte left acting and entered the corporate world. She worked at Capital Records for over 10 years before landing a key position at Lorimar Television Productions. In 1992 Charlotte left Lorimar to become Director of Music Licensing for Saban Entertainment. She passed away quietly in her home on October 20, 1993.